Six up-and-coming Italian fashion designers chat about how they got started in the industry and the challenges they have encountered along the way.

Marques Almeida, a brand known for its shredded denim, and Liam Fahy, a shoe designer from Zimbabwe, are two of the nine designers chosen by the British Fashion Council to receive Newgen sponsorship for Spring/Summer 2014. Newgen is often referred to as “the home of ones-to-watch in London”, so we might be hearing a lot more from these designers very soon.

Fashionista reports that by embracing domestic brands, Peng Liyuan, China’s First Lady, has considerably increased interest in Chinese luxury brands. Browse the slideshow for more info on five names to watch out for.

Fab Links from Our Members

RoseandJoan is becoming increasingly fascinated by the role of 3D printing in fashion and where this technology is going to take us, and finds this website very informative.

K liked this Stylecaster post on “How to figure out what colors look best on you” because it actually shows the different tones for each colour.

In My Joi participated in Tanesha’s peplum style challenge, showing how a variety of body types can wear the peplum look and encouraging women to experiment with the trend.

L’Abeille got a good laugh from this Pinterest page that spoofs the über-precious outfits and poses in children’s fashion.

In this piece Sally talks about how some have perceived her body image writing as hypocritical because she provides style advice as well as promoting positive body image. Angie finds her writing on body image to be balanced, empowering, respectful and helpful. And adds that she enjoyed Sally’s perspective on why she has chosen to focus on the “middle ground” when it comes to writing about this highly emotive subject. 

La Belle Demimondaine would like to share this comic that, at first glance, “doesn’t really have anything to do with style, or fashion, or looking fab, and yet, it does”. She actually found it quite inspirational.

InStyle Magazine is now selling their own white button-down shirts, sized by bra size for a more precise fit. Nadya hopes that someone tries them soon and reports back.

This article on how to wear Fall footwear right now is inspiring AJ to get out her Fall shoes early, especially since Summer seems to be never-ending in her neck of the woods.

Laurinda thought these photos of “guys with fancy lady hair” were provocative — but then if men put in the time and effort to have long hair, why shouldn’t they have fun braiding it?

Celia loved learning about the Balenciaga heritage and enjoyed the message in this blog post that critiquing outfits for a living is about more than just saying you like a certain look or not. It also made her appreciate Cate Blanchett’s outfit for its history, and the art and craftmanship involved in the creation.

Cut-out booties have been a fringe trend for about a year, but have become more popular in 2013. They’re booties with open portions on the shaft area of the foot which is what creates the “cut-out” effect. Sometimes the cut-out detailing extends down on to the vamp of the foot, but usually it’s concentrated around the ankle area. 

Most cut-out booties are casual, but occasionally you’ll find a dressier style, like the Steven Triisha’s. Or a style somewhere between dressy and casual, like the combination boot from Zara in burgundy and black. 

The point of the style is to showcase the cut-out parts, and not hide them under trousers or jeans. That’s why they work well with boyfriend jeans, straight legs or skinnies that can be rolled at the hem, and ankle length pants that are a similar length to the height of the shaft. They also work well with shorts, skirts and dresses if those edgier combinations tickle your fancy. 

Here’s why the style is fab: 

• They look interesting, fresh and new.
• They are a practical boot option for warm Autumns and Springs, very mild Winters, and cool Summers. 
• They are a super boot style for Team Tough. 

Here’s why the style is not so fab:

• They are impractical in cold, rainy weather. Although you could wear them with thick hose, unless the weather is very nasty.
• Wearing booties sans socks might be a deal breaker. You could wear a footie with a few of the styles, or knee-highs under jeans and trousers. 
• They probably won’t work for Team Pretty. 

I don’t think I will be wearing casual cut-out booties because they generally look too tough for my style preferences. For a brief moment I toyed with the idea of the white version below because they look prettier than the rest. But I decided against them because I prefer footwear with minimal hardware, and a dressier vibe. That said, I love these cut-out booties for Team Tough. We’ve had forum members like Marley wear them to perfection, and they’ve been a match made in heaven for some of my clients.

What’s your take on cut-out booties? Do you like them, and would you wear them?

Here’s a selection of soft and stretchy black Ponte pants, which make a cozy change to stiff jeans. They’re ideal for casual Fall ensembles, but can also be dressed up for work with heels, blouses and formal jackets. Also in the list, arty toppers that are a great complement to the formfitting pants. 

1. Kut from the Kloth Jennifer Knit Pants: A comfortable and basic wardrobe piece that runs true to size and has enough length for tall gals. Read the rave reviews. 
2. NYDJ Zip Trim Skinny Stretch Ponte Pants: This has been a winner with my clients because they are slightly dressier than the KUTs. The extra thick fabric is supportive and adds structure to your outfit. Runs true to size, but shorter than the KUTs. 
3. Edyson Ponte Knit Skinny Pants: The fit is extra sleek. The stitch detailing down the front of the thighs adds a sporty touch, which will either make or break the look. May run a little small.
4. NYDJ Straight Leg Stretch Ponte Pants (Petite): These fit less closely to the body than the zip trim skinnies, and have a straighter leg. Great for gals with larger calves. Read the rave reviews. 
5. NYDJ Leather Trim Ponte Pants (Plus): Made of the same thick Ponte fabric as the other NYDJ’s styles, but with slanted pockets and leather trim. Good on an extra curvy bottom and thighs. 
6. Tildon Bouclé Knit Robe Cardigan: A robe cardigan without the robe tie at the waist. Streamlined and modern, and available in four colours. 
7. Three Dots Convertible Draped Cardigan (Plus): A drapey topper that works well over a long sleeved T-shirt. It’s sheer so don’t expect this item to keep you warm. Fab for a hot Fall. 
8. Michael Kors Woven Front Cardigan: A retro style that belts at the waist. Long in front and short at the back. Fab over a navy pencil skirt. 
9. Knit Vest With Faux Leather Pockets: This piece is very unstructured so it hangs like a sack. But it’s fabulous in an avant-garde and interesting way. Check out the back detail. It’s fab on a broad shoulder line, and looks a lot better on those who can fill out the silhouette. Love the leather pockets. 
10. Free People In Your Arms Sleeveless Cardigan: This one is for Team Bohemian. Lots of stitch interest and volume. Dramatically casual over a simple long sleeved T-shirt with jeans and boots. 

Long toppers are great worn over Ponte pants if you feel too exposed wearing an ultra formfitting style on the lower half of your body.

Yesterday I talked about the number on the size label being merely a starting point when you are considering a purchase. Fit is what’s important. Today I want to take that principle further: Don’t let the designer or the retailer of an item dictate to you the way it should fit on your body. 

Sure, the designer might have had a specific look or even a specific body shape in mind. And retailer staff reveal their opinions in the way that they showcase the item in photography and displays. But like the size on the label, these things are merely starting points. Once the item is on your body, the way it looked in the magazine or on the website are no longer very relevant. What is important is what the item does on your body and for your happiness factor.

This might mean going up a size or two to create a more fluid fit. Or sizing down to create a more formfitting look. It could mean going up a size and tailoring the parts that are too big. Or sizing down, repositioning buttons, and letting out a side seam on the areas that are too tight. Sometimes it just means embracing the fit on your body, regardless of what it looks like on the model. The look might be very different, but that doesn’t matter if it works for you.

My favourite wool trousers, the Theory Yanettes, were shown on the model as a sleek ankle pant. But that’s not how I chose to make them fit my body. They are roomy and full length with scrunch on me. If I’d gone down a size, I may have achieved a fit that was slightly closer to that of the model, but I didn’t even try doing that. I prefer the fluid fit of the trousers in this size and left it at that.

My favourite Jil Sander Gaberdine skirt is shorter and sleeker on the six foot model than it is on a five foot six inch gal like me. The fit on my frame is longer and more A-line. I could have tapered the side seams a little, and had the skirt shortened to achieve a closer fit to that of the model. But I prefer my skirts longer, and love the extra architectural volume that the silhouette creates over my thighs, so I left the skirt as is. 

You might look at these pictures and prefer the fit on the model. That’s ok because it’s a personal preference. I’m not saying the item looks better on me. I’m saying that I’m happy with the way the items work for me, and when it comes to a purchase decision, that’s the only relevant piece of information.

Think beyond how an item fits a model, and focus on how items fit your own proportions and suit your needs. If you have the freedom to choose a longer, shorter, wider, or narrower version of the fit than what was originally intended by the designer or suggested by the retailer, go for it.